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Goodbye, Willapa

When I heard several years back that the old Willapa had sunk at her mooring at Mare Island, I had a feeling it was only going to be a matter of time before she met the cutter's torch.  I had no idea it would take as long as it did, but sadly, the Willapa is no more.      When she was sold over a year ago and ended up in the hands of Parker Oceanic I held out a little hope that something might be done with the old Steel Electric that had been converted to a single-ender by Black Ball.  Parker Oceanic had a viable plan...but as is the case with all these old boats, it was going to take a ton of money.      Then I found out she'd been grounded in the mud off Spud Island on the San Joaquin River.  More or less at that time I knew the clock was ticking.      Last month the email came in from Enterprise Marine Co. Inc.  They were undertaking the demolition of the Fresno (aka Willapa) and that she was too far gone to be saved.      Farewell, Willapa.  It's a pity no one could have utilized you like they did your sister, Santa Rosa.

Postcard of  the Month

And the Answer for  December is... the Olympic!

My clues were not as obsecure as I thought, as nearly everyone guessed the might Olympic. The Olympic remains one of my favorite vessels on the Port Angeles-Victoria run.  Even after being converted to carry cars, she still retained her graceful steamer lines. The much more publicised  Iroquois ended up much more boxy after her conversion.      Final disposition of the old Olympic is unknown. She still might be sailing in South America.

I've been after a  decent photo postcard of the City of Angeles for quite some time, and finally landed one!  The first proper auto ferry on the Anacortes-Sidney run, the City of Angeles is largely forgotten these days.  A former passenger steamer in California named the City of Long Beach, she started with the independant Port Angles-Victoria ferry company before being absorbed by PSN.  She was scrapped in 1938.  Author's collection.

Google Earth Place Of the Month: Ferndale, California.

Why Ferndale, California you ask?      I've always been a fan of horror films and books.  At least until recently.  The current trend for gallons of blood and long, drawn out scene of torture and disturbing graphic violence leaves me cold.  A little bit of restraint in horror is a good thing--and the better horror films being released these days know that. (The Others leaps to mind, for example.)       One of the more memorable films  from myyouth  was the 1979 version of Salem's Lot, directed by Tobe Hooper.  I didn't see the original airing if the two part mini-series when it came on, but caught it a few years later when the edited version  popped up on cable.   As a ten year old,  it scared the heck out of me.  Today it doesn't...there are some very effective scenes and overall it's an okay flick--but it does suffer from the limits of a film  made for television.  Some scenes are downright laugable.      The story is set in Maine, where the bulk of Stephen King's stories take place.  Parts of the film were shot in Ferndale, California, most notably the scene involving the nefarious Marsten House. Even as a kid I knew something wasn't quite right about the house. It didn't look authentic in its Victorian architecture, and f it  didn't look nearly as abandoned as it was to have been.  There was good reason for that--it wasn't an old house, it was a sett--and it had been built around a much smaller existing structure.      Google Earth's "Street View" offers a view of the same spot where some thirty one years ago the unconvincing Marsten House set was built for the film.  Remarkably, not much has changed--even the driveway looks basically the same.

Photo for January

The moon soars high over Mount Constance and the Olympic Mountains in this fantastic photo by Brandon Swan.      In addition to the moon and the moutains, the Eagle Harbor repair yard is in view, showing a few ferries and, at far right, a now departed Steel Electric ferry.      The central Sound runs on a clear day are hard to beat, with the Cascades to the east and the Olympics to the west.  Throughout the seasons the Olympics change the most--from a snow draped visage in the winter to bare, rocky crags devoid of snow in the summer.      Thanks to Mr. Swan for the photo!

Mystery Ferry for January: *Became famous for a very impressive accident. *For a time was one of the largest double-ended ferries in the world until bumped by a near cousin in th 1990's. Good luck!                                      EMAIL

Fleet Updates For those keeping up on the ferries missing from the WSF Fleet currently...(Be aware this is updated monthly and may not reflect the current state of affairs.)

Rhododendron: Point Defiance-Tahlequah EVERGREEN STATE CLASS: Evergreen State: SJI interisland; Klahowya:  Vashon-Southworth-Fauntleroy--annual inspection last week in January. Tillikum: Southworth-Vashon-Fauntleroy Hiyu: Standby SUPER CLASS Hyak:Seattle-Bremerton Yakima:out for maintenance until third week in January, then back to boat #2 Anacortres-San Juan Islands Kaleetan: Anacortes-San Juan Islands Elwha: In for Yakima for two weeks, then boat #1 until third week in February, then out for maintenance until second week in April. JUMBO CLASS Spokane: Kingston-Edmonds Walla Walla: Kingston-Edmonds ISSAQUAH CLASS Issaquah: Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth Kittitas: Mukilteo-Clinton Kitsap: Seattle-Bremerton/FVS  Cathlamet: Clinton-Mukilteo Chelan: Drydock and painting!!! Sealth: Anacortes-San Juan Islands JUMBO MARK II  CLASS Tacoma: Seattle- WInslow Wenatchee: Seattle-Winslow , out for two weeks mid-month for annual inspection. Puyallup : filling in for the Tacoma & Wenatchee while they have thier annual inspections late December/January. MONOHULLS Skagit and Kalama: Out of service ON LOAN Steilacoom II-Port Towsend-Keystone, save for one weekend in January when out of annual maintenance. UNDER CONSTRUCTION Chetzemoka NON-WSF FLEET VASHON-SEATTLE PASSENGER ONLY FERRY (King County Ferries) Melissa Ann PORT ANGELES-VICTORIA Coho ANDERSON ISLAND Christine Anderson LUMMI ISLAND Whatcom Chief SEATTLE-VICTORIA Clipper IV GUEMES ISLAND Guemes BELLINGHAM- ALASKA Malispina

Wood ducks populate the area around the Mukilteo dock as the Cathlamet comes in for another landing.  Photo courtesy of Emory Lindgard.

There's nothing quite so impressive as a ferry carrying full-sized railroad cars as the Carrier Princess is doing here.  Photo courtesy of Mike Bonkowski .

The yawning cardeck of the M/V Puyallup at night, as captured by Zack Heistand.  The Puyallup will be off the Kingston-Edmonds run for her annual inspection and to fill in for the other Mark II's while they go in for their annual Coast Guard inspections.

Matt Masuoka points his camera at the Lego-like Coastal Renaissance. The new ferry looks particularly inpressive under the gloomy sky. Courtesy of Matt Masuoka.

Have a photo you'd like to submit for the "Photo of the Month?"  Email me your  ferryboat or scenic photos, past or present from Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska or British Columbia and I'll post it on the site!

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